KARACHI: Education system needs overhaul, say experts
KARACHI, Sept 10: Experts at a conference here on Saturday stressed the need for a long-term education policy, which should not only reflect the national aspirations but also meet the scientific and technological demands of today’s world.
They were speaking at the first International Education Conference organised by the International Educational Forum (IEF) here at a local hotel, presided over by Prof Mazharul Haque, vice-chancellor of Sindh University. A large number of educationists, teachers and parents belonging to various parts of the country attended the conference.
The speakers were of the view that the country could not progress with the present system of education which was obsolete. Most of them were in favour of using Urdu, the national language, as the medium of education at all levels.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mehar Saeed Akhter, director Education Research Institute, Punjab University, said that the government educational policies were highly influenced by the US and other western countries, trying to impose the western education system on Pakistan.
He alleged that the officials of the education department were not able to prepare a comprehensive education policy, as they even did not know about their duties and responsibilities. Experts of all schools of thoughts should be invited to discuss and chalk-out a comprehensive national education policy in the wider interest of the nation, he added.
Dr Hafeezur Rehman, ex-dean sciences, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), said that despite preparing various education policies and spending a lot of funds, the government had failed to achieve its targets, as it never took serious steps for the promotion of education and instead prepared the educational system and curricula on ad-hoc basis.
He suggested that instead of preparing new policies, the government should review the old one and make necessary amendments.
Dr Abdul Wahab, vice-chancellor of M. A. Jinnah University, said that we could not achieve our goals and targets by the present education system as there were a lot of faults in it and now it had become obsolete.
He said that our educational system and institutions needed massive infrastructural and curriculum changes so as to enable it to play the role of a socioeconomic catalyst.
Dr Mazherul Haque in his speech said that countries that were formed after Pakistan were progressing and developing due to their strong home-grown educational system.
Dr Hassan Sohaib Murad said that some vested interests were trying to impose secularism on Pakistani people through a well-planned conspiracy.
The speakers demanded to reconsider the educational policies, change the curricula and method of education.—PPI
